Hundreds receive JPII awards in Derry

Young people from 21 schools and 47 parishes thanked for ‘lifting hearts’

Archbishop of Salzburg Franz Lackner and Bishop Donal McKeown presented the Pope John Paul II Award to 549 young people from across the Diocese of Derry and beyond in the Millennium Forum, Derry City.

The young people came from 21 second level schools across the diocese and represented 47 parishes in the diocese and 20 parishes from outside the diocese. This year two people also received the Papal Cross Award.

Archbishop Lackner told the young people present at the 13th Annual Pope John Paul II Award ceremony in Derry of the great impact Pope John Paul II had on his life. He said: “In 1978 I was a United Nation soldier in Cyprus. By that time, I had lost the most precious gift given to me by my parents, the Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. At the same time John Paul II was elected Pope. And this had a profound effect on me.

“As a result, I rediscovered my Faith. And it was John Paul II who appointed me as Bishop in Austria. For 11 years I was Auxiliary Bishop in Graz and in charge of the young people. John Paul II was always in my heart.”

Bishop McKeown thanked young people who took part in the award, saying: “Your communities benefit from the work that you have done – but they also benefit from seeing your being involved. You have done useful things, but you have also lifted many hearts, often without knowing it.”

The award was launched in Derry in 2006 by the Papal Nuncio at the time, Archbishop Lazarotto.

From Derry it spread and in the last 13 years the award was introduced to 23 dioceses in Ireland.  Supported by International Coordinator, Mr Tony Brennan, the award is now in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and has just recently been introduced into the Diocese of Portsmouth. Since the award began in the Diocese of Derry, 5400 young people have received an award.